[The profile of the patients referred by general practitioners to respiratory physicians for assessment of undiagnosed bronchial disease].

Introduction: In general practice, COPD is often under-diagnosed and inappropriate pharmacological treatment given.

Objectives: To determine the profile of patients over 40 years old, smokers or ex-smokers, referred by general practitioners to respiratory physicians for assessment of undiagnosed bronchial disease.

Methods: Observational study carried-out among 103 respiratory physicians in France in 2007.

Total reversibility testing as indicator of the clinical efficacy of formoterol in COPD.

Rationale: The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines recommend bronchodilator reversibility testing to guide treatment decisions. This study evaluated the relationship between the change in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) with salbutamol or formoterol and the clinical effects of a 4-week formoterol (Foradil) treatment.

Methods: At Visit 1, patients (n = 448) with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease took an FEV1 reversibility test using 200 microg salbutamol via a metered dose inhaler.

Guidelines versus clinical practice in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The main purpose of this study was to assess whether pharmacological treatments prescribed by respiratory physicians to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were consistent with the guidelines. The treatments prescribed by respiratory physicians to 631 consecutive patients with COPD, compared to 879 asthmatics were prospectively recorded. All subjects underwent peak expiratory flow rate measurement, spirometry and assessment of recent evolution and dyspnoea (visual analogue and Medical Research Council scales).

Comparison between formoterol 12 microg b.i.d. and on-demand salbutamol in moderate persistent asthma.

Inhalation of on-demand salbutamol (ODS) several times daily is sometimes the only beta2-agonist prescribed in moderate persistent asthma, whereas a long-acting beta2-agonist should be added. This trial aimed to compare the efficacy of formoterol dry-powder capsule 12 microg b.i.

[Postpneumonectomy syndrome in adults: description and therapeutic propositions apropos of 8 cases].

Background: Adult post-pneumonectomy syndrome can be defined as an extrinsic compression of the main bronchus or a lobe bronchus on the aorta resulting from excessive mediastinal deviation after pneumonectomy.

Patients: Eight cases in adults are reported. The delay to symptom onset was a mean 34 months.